Verger?Did You Say a Verger?What's a Verger?

Where Have You Seen a Verger?

Canterbury Cathedral

If you have ever been to a service in an English church, you have seen vergers. They are the ones you see carrying a strange stick (a verge) and leading the processions during the church services. They are the ones in the black vestments you see wandering around the church when you visit a church at a time when no services are scheduled. Beyond that you may not see the other important work they do.

The Verger as Minister. Vergers are committed lay ministers in the Church who assist the rector in the planning and conduct of public worship, especially in the marshaling of processions. Their duties may be purely ceremonial or they may include other responsibilities such as working closely with the altar guild, the chalice bearers, the acolytes, and others who have worship-service responsibilities in order to assure that a service, particularly a special service of some sort, runs smoothly with the meaningfulness, beauty, and dignity that the service deserves.

The Verger's Origins. The office of verger has its roots in the earliest days of Anglican history. In earlier years vergers were responsible for the order of the house of worship, including preparations for the liturgy, the conduct of the laity, the care of the church building, and often grave-digging. They led processions holding their verge (a device akin to the battle mace) to discourage animals and unruly folk from interfering with the processions.

The Verger Today. Although modern vergers no longer dig graves or have to deal with animals and unruly folk, the office has evolved into a ministry that clergy throughout the Episcopal Church have come to appreciate within their congregations. Vergers often relieve the clergy of the burden of liturgical detail so that they can concentrate on their priestly duties to preach the Word and administer the Sacraments. No longer found primarily in cathedrals and large parishes, vergers are assets to small churches as well.

The Verge

The verge is a staff that a verger carries in procession. The name comes from the Latin virga, which simply means a rod or staff; hence, a verger is one who carries a staff. The verge has a history originating in the ceremonial maces carried before civic and ecclesiastical dignitaries. The Maces of State used in the House of Lords and the House of Commons of the British Parliament as well as the maces carried in academic processions in colleges and universities bothin Great Britain and in the United States are examples of other modern uses of the medieval symbols. Originally a weapon used to clear the way for processions, the verge's use is now principally honorific.

The Verger's Vestments

The basic vestment of a verger is a black cassock or a white alb. In some places, especially cathedrals, the cassock or alb may be of another color. Over the cassock or alb, when performing a ceremonial function, the verger wears a sleeveless gown somewhat resembling a bishop’s chimere.